Opening a Restaurant or Retail Store in Brampton: Choosing the Right Plaza

Brampton has one of the most diverse and fast-growing populations in Canada. That's great news for restaurants, cafés, grocers and retailers, as long as they choose the right location. Karan Devgan, Commercial Real Estate Broker with Royal LePage Flower City Realty, helps food and retail owners find plazas where customers already are.

Start with the customer, not the listing

Before touring units, Karan works with clients to define who their customer is and how that customer shops. A quick-service restaurant needs drive-by visibility and easy parking. A specialty grocer needs a community nearby that wants its products. A dessert café does well near evening and weekend traffic.

The questions to ask about every plaza

• Who are the anchors? Grocery stores, pharmacies and banks bring in daily traffic.
• Is there an exclusive already? Another tenant may have the exclusive right to your use.
• What infrastructure is in place? Venting, grease traps, gas and hydro capacity can save tens of thousands of dollars in build-out.
• Is the parking enough at peak times? Visit at lunch, dinner and on weekends.
• What's the signage like? Pylon and storefront signs drive walk-in customers.

Negotiating a lease that protects your margin

Restaurants and retailers live on tight margins. Karan negotiates fixturing periods, landlord contributions toward improvements, reasonable personal guarantees and renewal options so a successful location stays yours.

Brampton knowledge you can't get from a listing

Karan has spent years building businesses and community programs in Brampton, from franchise consulting to the Flower City Bhangra and Flower City Gidha festivals. He knows which neighbourhoods are growing, which plazas are turning over and where new homes are bringing new customers.

Planning a new restaurant or store? Tell Karan your concept and he'll find the plazas that fit it.